Daniil Medvedev hits a backhand against Novak Djokovic in the...

Daniil Medvedev hits a backhand against Novak Djokovic in the U.S. Open men's final at the USTA Billie Jean King Tennis Center in Flushing Meadows Park on Sunday, Sept. 12, 2021 Credit: Newsday/J. Conrad Williams Jr.

Novak Djokovic’s Grand Slam dreams began with a three-set victory in the final of the Australian Open in January.

Those dreams ended in a three-set loss in the U.S. Open on Sunday.

The loser in Melbourne? Daniil Medvedev.

The winner in Flushing Meadows? Daniil Medvedev.

The 25-year-old Russian, with an impressive display of serving, rallying, court coverage and just plain determination, defeated one the game’s all-time greats, 6-4, 6-4, 6-4, to claim his first major title.

The defeat denied Djokovic the calendar year Grand Slam after he followed Australia with wins at the French and Wimbledon. That feat was last accomplished by the Australian legend Rod Laver in 1969, who had also done it in 1962. He was watching from the stands.

At the awards ceremony, after Djokovic had congratulated him for a well-earned title and predicted many more. Medvedev took the microphone and looked directly at him, saying: "I’ve never said this, but you are the greatest tennis player in history."

Novak Djokovic breaks his racket after he failed to break...

Novak Djokovic breaks his racket after he failed to break Daniil Medvedev during the second set in the U.S. Open men's final at the USTA Billie Jean King Tennis Center in Flushing Meadows Park, Sunday Sept. 12, 2021 Credit: Newsday/J. Conrad Williams Jr.

The loss also denied Djokovic his 21st Grand Slam title, which would have broken the tie for most ever with Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal.

Medvedev seemed destined for his first major title. He lost to Nadal in the 2019 Open, earning the respect of the fans for producing a five-set thriller after feeling their wrath for some on-court antics early in the tournament. He went down meagerly to Djokovic in Australia, saying he hadn’t left his heart on the court. On Sunday, there was no question that he had left his heart in New York.

"I do feel sorry for Novak because I cannot imagine what he feels," Medvedev said. "I don’t know this feeling. It definitely makes it sweeter. I mean, a Grand Slam is a Grand Slam."

With the crowd chanting "Novak, Novak, Novak" before the first serve, Medvedev set the tone from the very beginning by breaking Djokovic in the first game. Djokovic never earned a break point on Medvedev’s serve in the first set.

Against the best returner in the history of the game, Medvedev hammered away with his serve. But Djokovic managed to go up 0-40 on Medvedev’s serve in the second game of the second set, then failed to convert with Medvedev winning the last two points with an ace and a service winner.

A telling moment, maybe the defining one, came on Medvedev’s serve in the fourth game. Djokovic held another two break points and again he failed to convert. After he made an error on the deuce point he smashed his racket, earning a warning from the chair umpire and boos from the crowd, otherwise decidedly on his side. Medvedev broke him in the fifth game and held for the set.

Djokovic was looking weary. In the six matches leading to the final he had played 25 sets of tennis to Medvedev’s 19, who only lost one set. Djokovic had lost the opening set of his previous four matches, had to go five grueling sets against Alexander Zverev in the semifinals and spent a lot of time and energy playing from behind.

Then he dropped the first two serves of the third set. Medvedev was rolling along virtually unchallenged. Medvedev served for the championship at 5-2. He earned two championship points, but his serve briefly blew a tire. A double fault took it to deuce, and another double fault earned Djokovic the break. Then Djokovic held for 5-4.

On the changeover, with the crowd cheering as loudly as they ever had for him, Djokovic started to tear up, putting a towel over his head before giving a couple of small fist pumps and a small smile. It wasn’t enough.

"He came out very determined on the court. You could feel that he was just at the highest of his abilities in every shot," Djokovic said. "He had a lot of clarity what he needs to do tactically. He has executed it perfectly. The other hand, I was just below par with my game. My legs were not there. I was trying. I did my best."

Medvedev knew Djokovic didn’t have his best.

"We saw him playing better. The question is, if he would be, would I be able to keep up with him?" Medvedev said. "We can never know now. I’m just happy to win."

More tennis

Newsday LogoSUBSCRIBEUnlimited Digital AccessOnly 25¢for 5 months
ACT NOWSALE ENDS SOON | CANCEL ANYTIME